Category Archives: spiritual formation

Excuses have no good uses

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Steve Simms

Excuses are a popular type of denial. A happy life can’t be built on a foundation of excuses. Make hope, not excuses. We think excuses protect our pride, but all they really do is hide our hope. An honest confession … Continue reading →

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God’s route is Spirit-led

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Steve Simms

Christianity’s about Jesus and being led by His Spirit. Anyone or anything that gets more of your attention than Jesus blocks the way. Every Christian needs to learn to be led by God’s Spirit. There’s nothing routine about being Spirit-led! … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Discouraged? Enjoy some insight-delight!

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Steve Simms

Insight-delight ignites joy. When you begin to rejoice in what God shows you, you’ll be happy. One moment of insight-delight is more powerful than many years of hearing sermons. Too many Christians lack insight-delight. They haven’t personally received thrilling revelation … Continue reading →

Posted in aha moment, church, flash of insight, insight, prophetic insight, revelation, spiritual formation, spiritual insight | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church members matter . . .

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Steve Simms

Church members matter.They’re not ornamentsIn an audience.They should meet to bePart of Christ’s bodyDirected by Him,Led by Gods Spirit,Hearing what He saysAnd then doing it. Let’s forget about self and comfort. Let’s focus instead on letting Christ live in and … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, Beyond Church, Christ in you, church, church attendance, spiritual formation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christianity is about individuals, not clones in religious institutions

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Steve Simms

Until we gather with and spiritually connect with Christ-transformed individuals, there will be little unity among Christians. When Christ-transformed individuals recognize each other there’s an instant sense of kinship and community. I sold black history books during college summers and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living, Christian recovery, institutional church, life transforming, spiritual formation, transformation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A ground-breaking wake-up thought this morning

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Steve Simms

As soon as I woke up this morning, I wrote this on a slip of paper: (“If Christ is in you, He’s not just there passively. He’s there actively working in you.”) That was ground-breaking in my consciousness. Now, after … Continue reading →

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When the Cultivator cultivates human heart-soil

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Steve Simms

Trust GodTo cultivateYour heart.Let Him pullThe weeds outBefore they startTo overrun you! When weedsAre allowedTo run wildIn your heartPeace and joyDepart. For life-giving cultivationRead the Bible withHeart-warming contemplation,Not theological speculation. Some people let God cultivate beauty within them. Some people … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, growing in grace, how to grow spiritually, spiritual formation, spiritual health, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inner fruit can keep you smiling

Posted on October 3, 2022 by Steve Simms

Jesus, teach meHow to be a fieldWhere the fruitOf the Spirit can flourish. Abundant fruitOf God’s SpiritCan’t growInside meUntil I allowJesus and HisRivers of living waterTo freely flowAnd irrigate meFrom within. The fruit of God’s SpiritIs a slow grow.It doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Actuation makes the risen Jesus real (to you)

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Steve Simms

got actuation? When you actuate Jesus, His water park breaks out inside you: “Rivers of living water will flow from within,” “A spring of water welling up to eternal life,” “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in … Continue reading →

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Refuse to get comfortable in the Dead Sea.

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Steve Simms

Jesus doesn’t put the Dead Sea into His followers. Instead, He releases ongoing inner rivers of living water. Those invisible rivers are the most important rivers on the planet. Christ-followers are now God’s temple. The rivers that Ezekiel writes about … Continue reading →

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